"Who invented the computer?" is not a question with a simple answer. The real
answer is that many inventors contributed to the history of computers and that a
computer is a complex piece of machinery made up of many parts, each of which can
be considered a separate invention.
This series covers many of the major milestones in computer history (but not all of
them) with a concentration on the history of personal home computers.
The first computers of this generation were developed for the atomic energy industry.
In 1981 IBM introduced its first computer for the home user, and in 1984 Apple introduced the
Macintosh. Microprocessors also moved out of the realm of desktop computers and into many
areas of life as more and more everyday products began to use microprocessors.
As these small computers became more powerful, they could be linked together to form networks,
which eventually led to the development of the Internet. Fourth generation computers also saw
the development of GUIs, the mouse and handheld devices.